Story of The Starving Polar Bear

Last year, during the summer, a male polar bear that was completely emaciated was seen wandering across a large sheet of ice in the Svalbard Archipelago. Based on its size it appeared as if the bear had not eaten for many months. The polar bear was so lean that researchers placed it in the thinnest category to describe its level of fat stores. Human induced climate change has caused the sea ice to melt, making it harder and harder for bears to find prey.

Bear needs to find food

The bear needed to find food and to do it quickly. He spotted three bearded seals in the open seawater and saw his chance. Very slowly the polar bear slipped into the ocean and took aim at the closest seal in what is known as an “aquatic stalk”. This is a stealthy hunting technique used by polar bears to sneak up on their prey. They first glide through the water without making a sound and locate the exact position of a seal before diving and then attacking it from below.

The aquatic stalk

Most bears will surface periodically to see whether they are aiming for the correct place, often hunting behind ice chunks. This polar bear however did not. The first seal may have been warned by the splash of the bear as it began to examine its surroundings. 32 seconds after the polar bear first began to dive the seal too disappeared under water. The second seal was perhaps 12-13 metres further away.

Under water for over three minutes

After over three minutes the bear exploded out of the water propelling himself halfway onto the ice exactly in front of the second seal say researchers. The hunt was observed by Rinie van Meurs an eco tourism guide as well as the ship’s captain, his crew and several passengers. A team actually filmed the unsuccessful hunt and were later able to confirm the polar bear was submerged for a total of three minutes and ten seconds.

The longest observed dive

To date this was the longest observed dive for a polar bear. The previous record was set in 1970 and lasted 70 seconds. Despite its efforts things did not go well for the bear that had to stay hungry. Whilst he managed to grab one of the seal’s flippers momentarily, he was unable to catch it. Instead the polar bear was forced to watch his pretty swim away whilst he rested on the ice panting heavily before turning back to the water to look for more seals.